Waves and Sound

Practice past-paper questions

Practise O/L exam questions on Waves and Sound with worked solutions

1. 2021 · Paper II · 5 marks
   A sound wave has a frequency of 440 Hz and travels at 340 m/s in air. (i) Calculate the wavelength of the sound wave. (ii) Distinguish between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave. State which type sound is. (iii) Explain why sound cannot travel through a vacuum.
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   (i) λ = v / f = 340 / 440 ≈ 0.77 m (ii) Transverse wave — particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of wave travel (e.g. light). Longitudinal wave — particles vibrate parallel to the direction of travel (e.g. sound). Sound is longitudinal. (iii) Sound requires a material medium (particles) to compress and rarefy. A vacuum has no particles, so sound cannot be transmitted.
   Source: NIE O/L Science 2021 Paper II Q6

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